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The History Channel
Primetime Programming Schedule
(schedules available after the 1st & 15th)
NOTE: We are listing both EST/Pacific Time and individual television ratings.
All rated [G] or [PG] unless noted. [NR] = Not Rated or news-related program.
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Meet The History Channel's Featured Historians! Go to: HistoryChannel.com/historians
September 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Traps
Gotcha! Traps are a device designed to capture and kill, but they
don't always harm their prey. Often necessary to the survival of a
species, watch as Black Bears are trapped by the West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources biologists for a population study. Feral
cats left stranded in New Orleans after Katrina are trapped, neutered,
and released. Head underwater to see how giant screw traps count
salmon on the Columbia River. Man traps? See high tech versions,
straight out of action movies.
8-11pm -- Clear and Present Danger (movie)
Harrison Ford stars as CIA analyst Jack Ryan in this faithful
adaptation of the Tom Clancy novel that finds Ryan embroiled in a
failed U.S. attempt to destroy a Columbia drug cartel and the
resultant cover-up that reaches into the White House. Co-starring
James Earl Jones and Willem Dafoe. (1994)
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Sunday, September 2, 2007
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7-8pm -- The Universe - The End of the Earth: Deep Space Threats to Our Planet
Asteroids, comets, gamma ray bursts and the sun all combine to make
the Earth a dangerous place to live. NASA's top brass and other
scientists are arming themselves with the latest technology to
pre-empt an apocalyptic attack. Watch and investigate bizarre, and
terrifying apocalyptic scenarios and the ways that scientists are
racing against the clock to develop technology to defend our planet.
8-9pm -- The Universe - The Most Dangerous Place in the Universe
Take a tour of the cosmic hot zones--black holes, galaxy mergers,
gamma ray bursts and magnetars. Super massive black holes can
literally "lasso" the Earth out of the solar system. A clash between
two galaxies can result in a barbaric ritual called "galactic
cannibalism" in which the dominant galaxy's super massive black hole
literally eats the weaker one. Magnetars are a cosmic magnetic force
so strong it could wipe out data on every credit card on the planet.
Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to
earth to show what life would be like on other planets, and to imagine
what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres.
9-10pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Off the Ice
The truckers look back at their experiences during the last ice road
season and explain what they do now that they're off the ice. Tensions
are sure to be high as both Rick and Drew have not spoken to Hugh
since leaving the ice roads prematurely. T.J., the rookie, has had
time to reflect on his time up north and will discuss whether or not
he'll be back up on the ice roads next year. Alex and Jay, full-time
residents of Yellowknife, are sure to have some thoughts on how the
locals feel about the spotlight that has been shined on their small
town.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 02 - Destination: Diamond Mine
Jay hauls a 17-ton water tank over 31 inches of ice all the way to the
De Beers Diamond mine. The rivalry heats up between Hugh and Rick as
they compete for the highest load count. And the season's first spin
out on "Charlie's Hill" causes a major traffic jam on the ice. Take a
look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on
earth--ice road truckers.
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Monday, September 3, 2007
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7-8pm -- The Universe - Search for ET
In a galaxy filled with a billion stars, in a universe filled with a
hundred billion galaxies--are we alone? SETI--the Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence--is a privately funded project using
radio telescopes and optical telescopes to scan the stars for signals.
NASA is planning missions to Mars, Jupiter's sixth moon, Europa, and
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, to look for primitive, microbial life in
ice concentrations. Whether we discover primitive or intelligent life,
how will that knowledge impact humankind's view of itself?
Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to bring the universe down to
earth to show what life would be like on other planets, and to imagine
what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres.
8-9pm -- Star Wars Tech -
Take a look at the technology shown throughout the six Star Wars films
and examine their viability through the eyes of cold hard science.
Could a Death Star really be built? Can you build an army of clones?
What is 3-D imaging, and where the can you get a Light Saber? Travel
to a galaxy far, far away to answer all of these questions and more.
9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Neanderthal!
On Gibraltar, at the very edge of Europe, scientists have discovered
evidence that the Neanderthals hung on for thousands of years longer
than previously believed. Join Zay Harding and Charles Ingram as they
test their weapons, decode their DNA, and dive into underwater caves
that may reveal the final story of their last years on earth.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Off the Ice
The truckers look back at their experiences during the last ice road
season and explain what they do now that they're off the ice. Tensions
are sure to be high as both Rick and Drew have not spoken to Hugh
since leaving the ice roads prematurely. T.J., the rookie, has had
time to reflect on his time up north and will discuss whether or not
he'll be back up on the ice roads next year. Alex and Jay, full-time
residents of Yellowknife, are sure to have some thoughts on how the
locals feel about the spotlight that has been shined on their small
town.
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Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Engineering Disasters 20
In March of 2005, the BP Refinery in Texas City, Texas, suffered a
series of explosions that decimated a large portion of the facility
and killed 15 workers. Examine the series of events that led to one of
the worst industrial accidents in the United States. Then we'll
document the unusual circumstances that caused American Airlines
flight 587 to fall from the sky. What happened in Times Beach,
Missouri, when a local waste hauler oiled down dusty roads with oil
that was laced with dioxin? Next we'll look at what went wrong with
NASA's Skylab in 1974 and finally we'll examine the fire that
destroyed the gas company, Praxair, in June of 2005. Interviews with
survivors help complete the picture.
8-10pm -- The Universe - Beyond the Big Bang
The universe began with a massive expansion, billions and billions of
years ago, and it continues to expand with every passing second. The
idea that the universe, and man's very existence, began with a "Big
Bang" is no longer a topic of debate among most scientists--it is
essentially taken as fact. How has man come to this conclusion, and
how has our knowledge evolved so that we can recreate the very first
seconds of our universe and all that has developed since? Interviews
with the world's leading physicists and historians are woven together
with animated recreations and first-person accounts to explain
concepts such as the formation of galaxies, the creation of elements
and the formation of Earth itself.
10-11pm -- Mega Disasters - Comet Catastrophe
The cause of the Biblical Great Flood may have been a massive
three-mile wide comet that crashed in the Indian Ocean, 4,800 years
ago. It is believed to have decimated over 60% of Earth's population.
A similar comet, crashing into the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco,
could cause millions of casualties followed by a lethal mega tsunami,
earthquake, torrential rains and a nuclear winter. Is the next massive
impact just around the corner?
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Wednesday, September 5, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Money
How does America make money--literally? We visit the United States
Mint and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to see the secretive
government facilities where our legal tender is generated. With a
storied past as tantalizing as the wealth they create, these mints can
spit out fortunes in an hour and keep our economy flowing.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Metal.
They constitute the very essence of the modern world; the cadence of
our progress sounds in the measured ring of the blacksmith's hammer.
From soaring skyscrapers and sturdy bridges to jet planes and rockets,
metals play a key role. Our journey begins before the Bronze Age and
takes us into the shiny future when new metal structures--engineered
at a molecular level to be stronger, lighter, and cheaper--shape human
progress, as they have since man first thrust copper into a fire and
forged a tool.
9-10pm -- Lost Worlds - Herod the Great
Herod, king of Judea, was famous for creating a series of great
buildings, and laying the foundations for Jerusalem. Watch as Herod's
impressive projects are charted, including his masterpiece, Herod's
Temple. Follow a team of historical detectives who use evidence from
recent excavations, scientific studies and historical documents to
piece together clues to what ancient locations looked like. They are
brought to life by computer graphics which allow viewers to fly over,
enter the streets, walk through the halls and peer into these vanished
worlds.
10-11pm -- UFO Files - Ancient Aliens.
Since the dawn of time, stargazers have looked to the sky wondering if
earth has had heavenly visitors. Scientists investigate ancient ruins,
artifacts, and texts from around the world exploring the possibility
of previous extraterrestrial visits and the plausibility of future
stopovers!
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Thursday, September 6, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Inviting Disaster #4.
Based on the popular book, this episode explores historical building
collapses--from ancient pyramids to the Cathedral at Beauvais to
Kansas City's Hyatt Regency--and demonstrates that clear warning signs
often existed, but were ignored. We also examine the collapse of the
Twin Towers in New York. Author Jim Chiles believes that designers and
engineers must better prepare for all potential disasters--by
understanding existing risks, they can prepare for the unknown, like
terrorism.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - It Came from Outer Space
Discover how essential space travel technologies have journeyed back
to Earth with surprising and indispensable commercial applications.
For example, paint that can withstand the heat of reentry now protects
our steel-framed high-rises from collapsing in a fire. Batteries that
can take a sports car from zero to 60 in four seconds also keep our
satellites in orbit. The oxygen tank used by firefighters to save
countless lives is just like the one used by our astronauts during the
Apollo missions. These and many ordinary objects are traced back to
their NASA roots, where they originally had the right stuff.
9-10pm -- Boneyard - Garbage
The average American throws out more than four pounds of trash a day,
nearly 300 million tons annually. An army of technologically advanced
machines processes garbage, from the local collection trucks to the
landfill compactors. In facilities called "Murfs," millions of tons of
resources are given a second life. The water bottles you tossed in
your recycling bin might become your new blanket. Electricity may be
generated from the garbage you set out at your curb. Discover their
unusual after-life as new products are created from garbage.
10-12am -- Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed -
The story of Anakin Skywalker's descent into darkness and his son
Luke's quest to conquer evil has spellbound audiences for 30 years.
The reason for this is simple: the saga of Star Wars is universal and
firmly rooted in the mythology and the political history of the entire
planet. May 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of George Lucas' space
fantasy that grossed billions worldwide. For the first time take a
profound look at the serious subtext behind Lucas' six film milestone.
The influence of ancient mythology from Greek legends to King Arthur
is visible; but also more recent historical influences, from the
political rise of Napoleon to the machinations of Adolf Hitler can be
seen.
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Friday, September 7, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Tunnels of Vietnam.
Here is the heroic story of a intrepid band of infantry soldiers, the
"Tunnel Rats", charged with a daring mission--to search for, find, and
destroy a secret subterranean network of enemy tunnels in Vietnam.
Armed with only a flashlight, valor, and a .45, they faced a
determined foe and overcame lethal odds, uncovering secret enemy arms
and intelligence caches. Tragically, many of these volunteers died and
others were seriously wounded on this terrifying suicide mission.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Bombs.
Bombs...the most feared and powerful weapon in any nation's arsenal.
What began as incendiary devices in the 7th century has evolved into
weapons that can literally blow the human race off the face of the
earth! From the use of diseased carcasses flung over castle walls to
Greek Fire to today's smart bombs, we review the evolution of bombs.
9-10pm -- Human Weapon - Pankration: The Original Martial Art
Hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff plunge into the cradle of
civilization, Athens, Greece, to explore what some thing is the
world's original mixed martial art. Literally translated as "all
powers," Pankration is the ancient Greek art of hand-to-hand combat.
Nearly four thousand years old and made famous by Spartans and ancient
Olympians, Pankration has recently been revitalized as a modern sport.
One that Jason and Bill will experience firsthand. From back alley
gyms to the oldest standing fortress in all of Greece, our hosts
immerse themselves in the origins of wrestling, boxing, grappling and
kickboxing and come to understand why Pankration has inspired art and
literature and martial arts for centuries. At the end of their
journey, one of them will face the ultimate test: a legal Pankration
match with a World, European, and six-time national champion
Pankration fighter--a true HUMAN WEAPON.
10-11pm -- Human Weapon - Muay Thai: Ultimate Striking
Hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff journey to Bangkok, Thailand, home
to one of the world's most distinctive and devastating martial arts,
Muay Thai. After witnessing beatdowns and knockouts at legendary
Lumpinee Stadium, they'll travel across the country perfecting the
moves of the fighting style known as The Science of Eight Limbs. From
ancient killing techniques in the jungles on the border of Burma to
weapons training among the ruins of a Buddhist temple, they'll master
all aspects of this centuries old discipline in the hopes that one of
them can survive a fight against an international Muay Thai champion.
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Saturday, September 8, 2007
____________________________________________________
7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Metal.
They constitute the very essence of the modern world; the cadence of
our progress sounds in the measured ring of the blacksmith's hammer.
From soaring skyscrapers and sturdy bridges to jet planes and rockets,
metals play a key role. Our journey begins before the Bronze Age and
takes us into the shiny future when new metal structures--engineered
at a molecular level to be stronger, lighter, and cheaper--shape human
progress, as they have since man first thrust copper into a fire and
forged a tool.
8-10pm -- The Universe - Beyond the Big Bang
The universe began with a massive expansion, billions and billions of
years ago, and it continues to expand with every passing second. The
idea that the universe, and man's very existence, began with a "Big
Bang" is no longer a topic of debate among most scientists--it is
essentially taken as fact. How has man come to this conclusion, and
how has our knowledge evolved so that we can recreate the very first
seconds of our universe and all that has developed since? Interviews
with the world's leading physicists and historians are woven together
with animated recreations and first-person accounts to explain
concepts such as the formation of galaxies, the creation of elements
and the formation of Earth itself.
10-11pm -- Mega Disasters - Comet Catastrophe
The cause of the Biblical Great Flood may have been a massive
three-mile wide comet that crashed in the Indian Ocean, 4,800 years
ago. It is believed to have decimated over 60% of Earth's population.
A similar comet, crashing into the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco,
could cause millions of casualties followed by a lethal mega tsunami,
earthquake, torrential rains and a nuclear winter. Is the next massive
impact just around the corner?
____________________________________________________
Sunday, September 9, 2007
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6-8pm -- The 9/11 Conspiracies: Fact or Fiction -
Examines the various conspiracy theories espoused on the Internet, in
articles and in public forums that attempt to explain the 9/11
attacks. It includes theories that the World Trade Center was brought
down by a controlled demolition; that a missile, not a commercial
airliner, hit the Pentagon; and that members of the U.S. government
orchestrated the attacks in hopes of creating a war in the Middle
East. Each conspiracy argument is countered by a variety of experts in
the fields of engineering, intelligence and the military. The program
also delves into the anatomy of such conspiracies and how they grow on
the Internet.
8-9pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Off the Ice
The truckers look back at their experiences during the last ice road
season and explain what they do now that they're off the ice. Tensions
are sure to be high as both Rick and Drew have not spoken to Hugh
since leaving the ice roads prematurely. T.J., the rookie, has had
time to reflect on his time up north and will discuss whether or not
he'll be back up on the ice roads next year. Alex and Jay, full-time
residents of Yellowknife, are sure to have some thoughts on how the
locals feel about the spotlight that has been shined on their small
town.
9-10pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Off the Ice 2
The truckers continue their look back at their experiences during the
last ice road season and explain what they do now that they're off the
ice. We'll also take a look at the town of Yellowknife--and the mining
industry--and see what life is like there in the off season.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 03 - Dash for the Cash
An arctic storm forces a road closure. Alex hauls a 44,000 pound
diamond ore crusher across 350-miles of ice to the BHP mine. And
brutal -40 degree temperatures start to take their toll on the
truckers. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most
dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers.
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Monday, September 10, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Poison.
Since ancient times, man has tried to control the "devil's
bounty"--deadly substances found throughout nature. Paradoxically,
some of these lethal compounds are now found to possess life-giving
properties. In this hour, we explore how ancient Egyptians, Greeks,
and Romans came to rely on the pernicious power of poisons and learn
the physiological action of these potent killers. During the
Renaissance, known as the Golden Age of Poison, the deadly practice
helped shape European history--most especially that of the Catholic
Church. We continue our investigation into the gas attacks of WWI and
up to the 21st century, when a new and serious threat of bioterrorism
plagues the globe. Finally, we peer into the future with scientists
experimenting with poisons and venoms from the plant and animal
kingdoms that may play an important part in healing diseases such as
arthritis and even cancer.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Welding
It was a science first conjured amid the fiery ovens of ancient
blacksmiths; today more than 50% of all U.S. products require some
form of welding. Whether via electricity, flammable gases, sonic
waves, or sometimes just raw explosive power, welding creates powerful
bonds between metal unmatched by any other joining process. From high
atop emerging 60-story towers on the Las Vegas strip to oil platforms
hundreds of feet below the ocean, discover how welders forge the
backbone of civilization. Learn about exciting new applications: how
sound waves create bulletproof welds for contemporary body armor; the
technologies behind robotic welding systems; and the knee-rattling
impact of an explosion weld, the most powerful method of all.
9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Angkor Wat: The Eighth Wonder
Travel deep into the heart of the Cambodian jungle to discover a
magnificent stone temple that was built on a scale unparalleled in
human history. Join Zay Harding as he uses the latest technology to
unravel the secrets of this ancient temple and solve the mystery of
why it was suddenly abandoned in the jungle.
10-11pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 02 - City of Caves
Discover an ancient secret that dates back to the dawn of time lurking
beneath the city of Budapest, Hungary. The caves beneath Budapest were
formed during the Ice Age and everyone from the cavemen to the
communists has moved their city into the depths of this parallel
world. Join host Eric Geller as he gains special access into this
sealed-up time capsule where he'll uncover a top secret World War II
hospital, find the source of the boiling healing water used by both
the Romans and the Turks, and see the layers of support added
throughout the centuries to keep today's world from falling into the
one buried below. Watch as the technological marvels that allowed
construction of one city upon another are revealed.
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Tuesday, September 11, 2007
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7-8pm -- The Day the Towers Fell -
A riveting special that reveals the never-before-told stories of
eyewitnesses, including amateur and professional photographers, caught
in the horror of the World Trade Center tragedy. Images captured by
many of the photographers are seen for the first time on television.
Together, they provide startling and intensely personal firsthand
accounts of that fateful day--stories of terror, hope, and survival.
8-9pm -- Grounded on 9/11 -
In response to the attacks on September 11, 2001, the FAA orders all
planes out of the air. US and Canadian air traffic controllers face a
calamity of epic proportions--how to safely re-route and land 6,500
planes carrying close to a million people. For individual air traffic
controllers, the work is chaotic, intense, and deceptively simple:
pick a new route for each flight; radio instructions to turn; listen
for pilot confirmation; hold traffic to keep airways from
overcrowding. From Cleveland, Ohio to Gander, Newfoundland,
controllers on September 11th searched for alternate airports to land
large jets even as their traumatized colleagues stream back from break
rooms after watching the attacks on TV.
9-10pm -- Ground Zero Search and Recovery -
This is the story of the biggest and most extraordinary crime scene
investigation in history--the 16-acre debris field that had once been
the World Trade Center. The detectives of NYPD's elite Crime Scene
Unit (CSU), led by Detective Joe Blozis, arrived at Ground Zero just
as the South Tower fell. As the enormity of the tragedy became
apparent, the focus of Blozis and his team quickly turned to providing
comfort and closure to the families of the dead by recovering and
identifying the remains of their loved ones. Using previously unseen
film and the testimony of CSU detectives, agents and scientists,
discover what the CSU uncovered at Ground Zero.
10-11pm -- Mega Disasters - Krakatoa's Revenge
In 1883, Krakatoa, the most famous and feared volcano on Earth,
erupted. Gigantic explosions blew the volcano to bits, which triggered
massive lava flows that generated huge tsunamis. Nearly 37,000 died,
the greatest death toll caused by a volcanic eruption. It could happen
again. Watch as state of the art models, 3D animations and practical
demonstrations show how the eruption occurred. Leading experts
speculate on the impact of a mega eruption today. Would the resulting
colossal ash cloud cause a worldwide catastrophe?
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - World's Strongest 2
What does it take to rate as "the world's strongest"? Watch as
life-saving boron carbide body armor, strong enough to stop 9mm
machine gun bullets at point-blank range, is put to the test. Visit
the world of Monster Trucks and watch BigFoot in car-crushing action.
For a demonstration of lifting might, head dockside with a
super-strong mobile crane capable of hoisting a 600-ton mega-yacht and
toting it through a boat yard without a scratch. The Super-Shredder is
a metal recycling monster that can gobble up 6 junked cars a minute.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Wiring America.
We begin with electrical linemen perched precariously out a helicopter
door, repairing 345,000-volt high-tension power lines. They are part
of an army of technicians and scientists we'll ride, climb, and crawl
with on this episode. They risk their lives so that we can have the
services we take for granted--electric power and 21st century
communications. They lay and maintain the wire that connects us one to
another, as well as America to the rest of the world. The hardwiring
of America is a story that is nearly two centuries old. And though
satellites and wireless systems may be challenging the wire, it's not
dead. Fiber optic cable, lines that transmit light, became a player in
information delivery in the late 1970s. We may be entering a
"wireless" age, but the infrastructure of wires laid by visionary
scientists and industrialists are still vital to America. Wire
technology will be with us, continuing to provide service, well into
the next century.
9-10pm -- Lost Worlds - Building the Titanic
The construction of the "unsinkable" Titanic needed an army of workers
and the resources of a purpose-built town complete with an array of
specially built docks and facilities to construct it. This is the
forgotten story of Belfast's "Titanic Town."
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Off the Ice 2
The truckers continue their look back at their experiences during the
last ice road season and explain what they do now that they're off the
ice. We'll also take a look at the town of Yellowknife--and the mining
industry--and see what life is like there in the off season.
____________________________________________________
Thursday, September 13, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Paving America.
The story of the construction of our grand national highway system,
from its beginnings in 1912 (it was conceived by auto and headlight
tycoons) to its completion in 1984 (when the last stoplight was
removed--and buried).
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Oil Fire Fighting.
When a burning gusher shoots flames into the air, only a handful of
men know how to snuff out the monster. Fighting fire with fire, they
place explosives around the flames to blow it out, or douse it with
tons of water. The modern world depends on these risk takers, yet
their industry began less than 100 years ago. Join us for a scorching
hour as we review the rich history of this "breed apart", and look at
modern heat-resistant clothing, new technology, and regulations that
protect oil firefighters.
9-10pm -- Boneyard - Demolition
With America's cities and industrial centers rapidly aging and
growing, thousands of buildings must be destroyed in order to be
raised up again. These structures and their internal components will
be transformed and recycled. There is great value not only in the
structural materials, such as concrete, brick and steel, but also in a
wide array of vital, non-structural items like copper wire, stairways,
plumbing, insulation, ventilation systems and even glass. For many of
the more grand structures, their hand-crafted and unique architectural
features must be carefully removed and restored to new life. For all
these activities there is a vast demolition industry to provide the
expertise, skills, and the increasingly specialized tools to do the
job.
10-11pm -- Dogfights - Night Fighters
In pitch-black skies, brave pilots put their lives on the line in an
effort to gain the ultimate advantage...the ability to attack, kill,
and withdraw without ever being detected. It's a risky mission that
depends heavily on technology. Night fighters pioneer the tactics and
technology and pave the way for the future of air combat. Famous
battles are recreated using state-of-the-art computer graphics.
____________________________________________________
Friday, September 14, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Coal Mines.
Coal--the fuel responsible for more than half the electricity used
daily. We unearth the amazing technological advances that have led to
today's extremely efficient methods--from ancient techniques to the
simplistic bell-pit method, from drift mining, surface mining, and
strip mining to modern longwall mining, when a massive machine
extracts an entire wall of coal in seconds. We go underground with
miners in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, and also address
environmental concerns.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - The Butcher.
In a carnivorous world, a butcher is a necessary link in the food
chain, carving a carcass of unsavory flesh into mouthwatering cuts. We
trace the grisly trade's evolution--from yesteryear's
butcher-on-every-corner to today's industrial butcher working on a
"disassembly" line. We tour the infamous remains of the Chicago
Stockyards, where Upton Sinclair, Clarence Birdseye, and refrigeration
changed butchering forever; witness high-speed butchering; and travel
to a non-stop sausage factory. And if you're still squeamish, a USDA
inspector offers the lowdown on HACCP--the country's new system of
checks and balances on everything from quality grading to E. coli,
Salmonella, and Mad Cow Disease. Finally, we visit the last bastion of
old-school butchering--the rural custom butcher, who slaughters,
eviscerates, skins, and cuts to his customer's wishes.
9-10pm -- Human Weapon - Krav Maga of the Israeli Commandos
Hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff travel to Israel to study one of
the deadliest and most effective hand-to-hand combat systems in the
world. Specifically designed for the Israeli Defense Forces in the
1940s, Krav Maga is dirty, anything-goes fighting style that is used
to disarm and destroy assailants carrying multiple weapons. Our hosts
journey to some of the most sacred religious locations in the world as
they learn to escape deadly chokes, deflect weapons, and perfect
ruthless counterattacks in their quest to become true human weapons.
Never before have our hosts learned a martial art that is not only
physically demanding, but also a combative necessity in this war-torn
country. Their journey ends with a fight against an entire unit of
elite-level Krav Maga professionals.
10-11pm -- Human Weapon - Eskrima Stickfighting
Hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff travel to the island nation of the
Philippines, where the indigenous fighting style, Eskrima, was formed.
From ancient forts in Cebu City to a modern military base in Manila,
our hosts will learn the stick and knife techniques that were used to
kill famed Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century and
to destroy the terrorist organization Abu Sayef in the mid 90's. Along
the way, they'll attempt to take down a 2000-pound water buffalo using
techniques developed on the rice patties at the foot of the Manalanga
Mountains, and perfect Eskrima stick twirling techniques on rickety
bamboo rafts beneath the waterfalls in the jungles of Badian. Finally
one of our hosts will enter a gritty cockfight ring for an Eskrima
stick fight against a 5-time world champion.
____________________________________________________
Saturday, September 15, 2007
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7-8pm -- Mega Disasters - Krakatoa's Revenge
In 1883, Krakatoa, the most famous and feared volcano on Earth,
erupted. Gigantic explosions blew the volcano to bits, which triggered
massive lava flows that generated huge tsunamis. Nearly 37,000 died,
the greatest death toll caused by a volcanic eruption. It could happen
again. Watch as state of the art models, 3D animations and practical
demonstrations show how the eruption occurred. Leading experts
speculate on the impact of a mega eruption today. Would the resulting
colossal ash cloud cause a worldwide catastrophe?
8-9pm -- Gangland: Aryan Brotherhood -
The Aryan Brotherhood has the distinction of being the deadliest gang
in American history. They kill for hire or for free. They kill people
who steal their drugs or those that owe them money. Maintaining the
culture of terror that has solidified their power is their primary
goal. Drugs, gambling, liquor and inmate prostitution earns them
millions. From their beginnings in San Quentin Prison in 1964 to
current trials of sixteen members in Los Angeles, discover the
ultra-violent world that has largely gone unnoticed by the general
public for the last forty years.
9-10pm -- The History of Sex - The Middle Ages.
In this steamy history, we trace the evolution of sexual beliefs and
practices from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Renaissance.
We'll also uncover the conflicting extremes of medieval romance and
sex--from the bawdy life of European city dwellers to the staid and
dangerous practice of courtly love. Medieval scholars offer humorous
and interesting carnal tales of lusty knights, bawdy widows, naughty
priests, and chaste maidens.
10-11pm -- The History of Sex - The Eastern World.
An exploration of sex in China, Japan, India, and the Arab world that
offers an intriguing perspective on the interrelation of sexuality and
spirituality in eastern culture. Among the topics presented are the
ancient Chinese equivalent of Viagra, Japanese acceptance of
prostitutes and pornographic art, and tips from the Kama Sutra.
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Sunday, September 16, 2007
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7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Off the Ice 2
The truckers continue their look back at their experiences during the
last ice road season and explain what they do now that they're off the
ice. We'll also take a look at the town of Yellowknife--and the mining
industry--and see what life is like there in the off season.
8-10pm -- How the Earth Was Made -
From a once seething, hellish mass of molten rock to the world that
inhabits life today, take a rollercoaster ride through the entire
history of Planet Earth. Its 4.5 billion year epic, a story of
unimaginable timescales, earth-shattering forces, incredible life
forms, radical climates and mass extinctions. Discover how the
continents were formed, canyons were carved, and why the world's
animals live where they do.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 04 - The Big Chill
It's the 18th day of the ice road season and truckers have delivered
more than 3000 loads to the diamond mines. The temperatures are
dropping, the loads are getting heavier and the ice is just three feet
thick. A 50-ton fuel tanker flips over at the beginning of the ice
road. Jay Westgard, a 25-year old ice road veteran, hauls three giant
water purifiers to the De Beers Diamond mine. It's a challenging
30-ton load that tests and stresses the ice for the entire journey.
Rookie Drew Sherwood finds himself back in Lee Parkinson's garage
after a rough trip tore his battery box from the underbelly of his
truck. Another rookie TJ Tilcox battles subzero temperatures in a
truck that's weatherproofed with duct tape.
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Monday, September 17, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bricks.
The history of civilization has been built on the back of brick, and
it's been said that "architecture itself began when two bricks were
put together well." From great Egyptian temples to the Roman
aqueducts, the Great Wall of China, and the dome of the Hagia Sophia,
brick is one of the oldest, yet least celebrated, building materials
manufactured by man. In this hard-packed episode, we explore brick's
past, highlighting defining moments, such as the Great London Fire of
1666, the zenith years of brick in the New York Hudson River Valley,
and brick as an essential building block in infrastructure and
industry. We'll feature advancements through the ages as well as
construction techniques, trends, and the future of brick construction.
Essentially, brick is still just burnt clay...it has been around for
thousands of years, but continues to serve as the backdrop of the
modern age.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Mackinac Bridge.
Until recently, the Mackinac Bridge was the longest suspension bridge
in the world. One of the top engineering marvels of the 20th century,
the bridge spans the 4-mile wide straits of Mackinac, where Lakes
Huron and Michigan come together. The Mighty Mac connects the pastoral
northern mainland of Michigan with the state's heavily forested Upper
Peninsula and stands as a testament to the dreams, determination, and
hard work of a small few who created a true masterpiece of modern
engineering.
9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Hunley: New Revelations
The Confederate Army, in a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the
Civil War, launched a new and daring weapon--a forty-foot submarine.
The H.L. Hunley, armed with a primitive torpedo, destroyed a mighty
Union warship, yet its crew never made it home. Join Hunter Ellis and
Kara Cooney as they try to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Exclusive archaeological evidence is used to reenact the crew's final
moments and reveal, for the first time, what likely sunk the H.L.
Hunley.
10-11pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 08 - New York
The underworld of New York City is a living, breathing complex of
engineering, history and secrets that could only exist in America's
largest city. From a classified World War II site where death awaited
unfortunate trespassers to the original rivers and aqueducts that led
to this great city's ascent, New York City may just have more stories
below ground than it does above. Join host Eric Geller as he braves
this massive urban labyrinth where the past, present and future
collide.
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bedroom Tech
We spend one-third of our lives in the bedroom. Explore the
technologies that help to ensure we wake up on the right side of the
bed. Check out ancient Chinese fire clocks, today's flying alarm
clock, big city napping pods, snore stoppers and sunrise simulators.
We'll explore sleeping disorders and delve into the creepy world of
those blood-sucking midnight snackers, the bed bugs. Electric blankets
step aside as Hugh Hefner's fantasy bedroom in the Playboy Mansion is
revealed!
8-9pm -- Star Trek Tech -
For forty years Star Trek has engulfed our imagination and sent us on
voyages across the galaxy. We'll take a look at the technology behind
the gadgets used in the series such as phasers and communicators, and
tell their stories from the people who knew them best--the actors,
producers and prop men.
9-10pm -- The Universe - Secrets of the Sun
It is a fireball in the sky, a bubbling, boiling, kinetic sphere of
white hot plasma, exploding and erupting. Its size is almost
unimaginable--one million Earths would fit within its boundaries. In
this violence is born almost all the energy that makes existence on
Earth possible, yet, its full mysteries are only now beginning to be
understood. From Sun spots to solar eclipses, solar flares to solar
storms, the birth of the sun to its potential death, discover the
science and history behind this celestial object that makes life on
Earth exist.
10-11pm -- Mega Disasters - Gamma Ray Burst
Scientists at the University of Kansas believe gamma ray bursts were
responsible for a great mass extinction on Earth 450 million years
ago. The gamma rays strip away the ozone layer and generate chemical
smog, producing a widespread chill that grips the Earth. It would
cause food chains to collapse resulting in a prolonged worldwide
famine. Also, an expected electromagnetic pulse will zap all of our
electronics. Scientists predict the Earth will be able to support only
5 to 10 percent of its current population; that means close to 6
billion people will die--most by starvation. How will our modern
cities hold up in the face of a previous global catastrophe?
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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Paint.
From the Impressionist canvas to the Space Shuttle...from customized
hotrods to the brilliant orange hue of the Golden Gate Bridge or tiny
electronic devices--paint is one of our most ubiquitous products. And
paint adds more than just pigmentation. It's a crucial engineering
element, protecting ships from water corrosion, stovetops from heat,
and the Stealth Bomber from radar detection. In homes and businesses,
it provides a balanced spectrum of light and protects surfaces from
wear. In this colorful hour, we discover how this marvel of chemistry
and engineering is made, and how it is applied. Come see what's
beneath the surface as we reveal one of man's most ingenious methods
of defeating the elements and adding spice to life!
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Batteries
They keep going and going and going... from the smallest to the
biggest, we show how they're made, what they power and where they're
headed.
9-10pm -- Lost Worlds - Sin City of the West
The Wild West was an era of American growth fueled by lawless gambling
towns, frenzied gold rushes, and legendary racketeers. Gunfighters and
misfits thrived in an anarchic society where people were simply
looking for a good time and a way to get filthy rich. Follow a team of
historical detectives who use evidence from recent excavations,
scientific studies and historical documents to piece together clues to
what the Wild West looked like. Computer graphics will allow viewers
to fly over, enter the streets, walk through the halls and peer into
this lost age.
10-11pm -- UFO Files - Deep Sea UFOs.
Join us for a detailed examination of the little-known phenomenon of
USOs, or "Unidentified Submerged Objects", an advanced type of UFO
that can operate just as efficiently in water as in the atmosphere.
These supposed otherworldly vessels have been reported, some believe,
as far back as ancient Egypt. Others believe that USOs were reported
by Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus, and might even
involve the lost city of Atlantis. Highlights include the 1967 "Shag
Harbour Incident", a government-documented USO crash off the coast of
Nova Scotia, Canada, and a trip to the area around Laguna Cartegena in
Puerto Rico, a reported hotbed of USO activity. Interviewees include
the US Navy's Bruce Maccabee, UCLA's Kathryn Morgan, as well as USO
and UFO experts Stanton Friedman, Bill Birnes, and Preston Dennett.
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Thursday, September 20, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Insulation.
It keeps us warm. It keeps us cool. It protects us and makes our world
more comfortable. As simple as a pane of glass, or as complex as the
fuselage of a space station, it's all around us, but is almost always
out of sight. We explore where insulation technology has been, where
it is today, and where it's going. We'll visit the manufacturing
facilities of two of the most recognizable insulating materials:
fiberglass and foam; and explore how insulation has evolved.
Historical highlights include how the ancient Romans and Greeks
insulated their homes, as well as the natives of tropical and arctic
climates. New technologies covered include insulated concrete forms
and gas-filled panels. Whether at home or in the office, on a space
station, or beneath the sea, insulation is essential for making our
world habitable. We'll show that how we use insulation, and how we
develop it, will be a major factor in how we conserve our supply of
energy in the coming years.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Extreme Aircraft II.
Take a supersonic flight through a world of flying machines that are
redefining our skies. Pull serious G's in the U.S. military's latest
fighter jet then grab the stick and see what the pilot sees through
the visor of the futuristic Helmet Mounted Display. Riding shotgun in
the lethal B-1B Lancer, and look close or you'll miss the swarm of
MAV's (Micro Air Vehicles)--so small they are launched out of a
backpack. The "vertical takeoff and landing" capable PAV's (Personal
Aerial Vehicles) may be the answer to the commuting needs of tired
travelers. Then, discover how a commercial jetliner has been
retrofitted into the biggest flying fire truck the world has ever
seen.
9-10pm -- Boneyard - Bio Waste
See where millions of gallons of municipal sewage are processed on a
daily basis. This sewage is a biowaste that can be transformed from a
hazardous nuisance into an asset. Watch as agricultural wastes are
reharvested for biofuels and animal and vegetable fats are refined
into biodiesel for cars and trucks. Finally observe how human bodies
are used to advance the science of forensic anthropology.
10-11pm -- Dogfights - The Bloodiest Day
May 10, 1972 was the biggest day of air combat in the Vietnam War. In
addition to great "turn and burn" battles, the dogfights involve some
remarkable electronic warfare as F4 Phantoms, F-105s, and numerous
other aircraft as they descend on North Vietnam employing advanced
radar jamming equipment, smart bombs, and other high-tech gear. Watch
as famous battles are recreated using state-of-the-art computer
graphics. First-hand accounts, rare archival footage and original
shooting supplement the remarkable computer graphics.
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Friday, September 21, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Glue.
It's Super! It's Krazy! And it can be found in everything from carpet
to computers, books to boats, shoes to the Space Shuttle. It's even
used in surgery! Without it, our material world would simply fall
apart. In this episode, we'll visit the stuck-up, tacky world of glue.
Glue's sticky trajectory spans human history and we'll cover it
all--from Neolithic cave dwellers who used animal glue to decorate
ceremonial skulls to modern everyday glues and their uses, including
Elmer's glue, 3M's masking and Scotch tape, and the super glues.
Remember the Krazy Glue commercial in which a man held himself
suspended from a hard hat that had just been glued to a beam? Well,
that 1970s vintage ad understates the power of glue. With the help of
a crane, we're going to hoist a 6,000-pound pickup truck off the
ground by a steel joint that's been bonded with glue!
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - The Lumberyard.
At the center of the American Dream is the home--and at the center of
its creation or renovation is the lumberyard. We'll explore the
options lumberyards provide for builders and renovators--from natural
to engineered woods. We'll show how plywood and pressed woods are
made, trace exotic woods to jungle and desert, visit a special
lumberyard that deals in recycled and antique woods, and go on an
underwater expedition as divers locate ancient logs buried in the
Great Lakes and New Zealand. We'll see how 50,000-year-old ancient
Kauri wood is "mined" from a bog and is now all the rage among those
who live in mansions and travel on yachts. From the lowly 2-by-4 used
to build a tract home, to a reclaimed set of historic planks used to
make a million-dollar bar in a 5-star hotel, this eye-opening program
hits the nail right on the head.
9-10pm -- Human Weapon - Savate Streetfighting
Hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff are in France, to study the combat
art of Savate. Literally translated to mean "old boot," Savate
developed through necessity. In the early 1800s, violent street gangs
looking for trouble ruled the Parisian underground scene. Their prey
was the aristocratic class who, to protect themselves, began taking
self-defense classes. Over the years this training evolved into modern
Savate - an exacting combat sport, and also the official hand-to-hand
assault system of the French RAID police. On their mission to uncover
Savate's distinct style, Jason and Bill navigate the dockyards of
Marseille, roam the grounds of a 14th-century castle, and even breach
a secret police training site to practice and perfect the painfully
efficient kicks and punches that comprise this elegant yet ruthless
art of combat. Finally, one of our hosts will enter the ring to take
on a Savate heavyweight champion.
10-11pm -- Human Weapon - Marine Corps Martial Arts
Hosts Bill Duff and Jason Chambers travel to Quantico, Virginia to get
a painful lesson in the combat style that has helped spawn the
Marines' widely feared reputation. They'll shoot, clash, and kick
their way through the Marine Martial Arts Program, the Corps'
self-invented fighting program that borrows over 180 deadly moves from
ancient martial arts around the world. Along the way, they'll learn
how Marines used their hand-to-hand combat and bayonet skills to
defeat four German divisions at the Battle of Belleau Wood in France
during WWI; how an elite unit known as the Marine Raiders fought their
way across numerous Japanese islands during WWII; and they'll hear
firsthand how Marines are putting their combat skills to the test in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Batteries
They keep going and going and going... from the smallest to the
biggest, we show how they're made, what they power and where they're
headed.
8-9pm -- Save Our History - Revolution in Boston
Colonial patriots first stoked the fires of independence on the
streets of Boston, and it's where abolitionists in the 19th century
fought for an end to slavery. Explore two buildings at the center of
those transforming movements as they undergo major preservation
efforts. The Old State House, built in 1713, has been called the most
important public building in colonial America. The African Meeting
House, dating back to 1804, is the oldest black church in the U.S.
Join host Steve Thomas as he brings into focus the dramatic role these
two historic buildings played in our nation's history.
9-11pm -- How the Earth Was Made -
From a once seething, hellish mass of molten rock to the world that
inhabits life today, take a rollercoaster ride through the entire
history of Planet Earth. Its 4.5 billion year epic, a story of
unimaginable timescales, earth-shattering forces, incredible life
forms, radical climates and mass extinctions. Discover how the
continents were formed, canyons were carved, and why the world's
animals live where they do.
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Sunday, September 23, 2007
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7-8pm -- Hippies - Part 2
Our look at the Hippie movement continues as we continue to dig into
every aspect of the movement--free love, the peace movement, drugs,
Eastern religions, communes, Gestalt therapy, macrobiotics--and
introduce the gurus whose words and actions inspired it. Historic
footage, stills and period graphics are interwoven with expert
commentary and eyewitness testimony. Part 2 of 2.
8-10pm -- Hillbilly The Real Story -
The two-hour special, hosted by celebrity Billy Ray Cyrus, brings
these mythic people to life through stories that span 300 years.
Outcast immigrants, war heroes, isolated backwoodsmen, hard working
miners, fast moving moon shiners, religious warriors, musicians and
statesmen make up the rugged cast of characters.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 05 - Midseason Mayhem
It's half way through the grueling ice road season. Six hundred
truckers have ferried more than 4,000 loads to the northern mines.
They still have 6,000 left to go, but everyday roadblocks threaten
their progress. Going a few miles over the speed limit is one thing on
a regular road, but on ice it's a different story. Blowouts are
appearing in the ice as a result of reckless speeding. Other trucks
come to a standstill when a fuel tanker overturns on the Ingraham
Trail. The wreck not only blocks traffic, but it's a potential
environmental disaster. Rescue crews race to prevent a diesel spill
from contaminating the Yellowknife River, the only water supply for
this entire outpost.
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Monday, September 24, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Axes, Swords and Knives.
Blade implements have been a part of civilized man's arsenal since the
Paleolithic Age, when sharp tools were chipped off of flint or
obsidian. But with the discovery of metallurgy, people were able to
forge stronger, more versatile blade implements. We visit an
axe-throwing contest in Wisconsin for an introduction to the least
subtle of the blade tools. Then we visit a swordsmith and an
experienced swordfighter who work in traditional methods from ancient
sources, and review the history of knives.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Saws
Sink your teeth into the razor sharp world of saws. Cut across the
centuries to discover how the Egyptians arduously sawed stone as
compared to modern saws that slice through limestone like butter. Saws
have been used as instruments of torture and tools for surgery. They
are imperative for construction, salvage, demolition, and they even
make music. Whether they have teeth of steel, carbide or diamond, you
will be on the cutting edge of successful sawing.
9-10pm -- Digging for the Truth - Pirates: Terror in the Mediterranean
The dastardly deeds of the Barbary Pirates are little known today,
despite the fact that they terrorized the seas and the shores of
Europe for more than 400 years. Join Zay Harding, Hunter Ellis, Kara
Cooney and Charles Ingram, as they mount a special expedition to find
the first-ever bona fide Barbary pirate vessel at the bottom of the
sea.
The History Channel's real-life Pirates Of The Caribbean website
including a Mail Call clip of their favorite weapons:
click on the pirate ship there to see the video
10-11pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 03 - London's Lost Cities
For thousands of years London has been among the most powerful cities
in the world. However, below the busy streets and marketplaces another
city hides--a city of Roman baths, secret crypts, lost rivers and
indestructible bunkers that could hold up to 8,000 people. Join host
Eric Geller as he reveals the subterranean secrets found below
London's most famous landmarks and even finds Winston Churchill's
hidden war rooms.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Coffee.
Traces the origins of this tasty drink from Ethiopia over 1,000 years
ago to the espresso-fueled explosion of specialty coffee stores like
Starbucks today. Along the way, we'll see how American companies like
Hills Brothers, Maxwell House, Folgers, and MJB grew to be giants.
Discover how billions of coffee beans make their journey from coffee
farms and plantations, and are processed in gigantic roasting and
packaging plants before showing up in coffee cups all over the world.
Details the invention and production of instant coffee, decaffeinated
coffee, freeze-dried coffee, and the espresso machine. Also, we
explain how coffee made shift work in factories possible, while
coffeehouses provided a creative cauldron that brewed political and
artistic progress in the 18th and 19th centuries. And, we also provide
tips on how to make a better cup at home!
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Deep Freeze
Take a look at the technology of cold. Think your home freezer is
"cool"? Try spending some time in a 12-story unit filled with 135
million pounds of ice cream. Enter Arctic vaults that store millions
of different seeds and learn how scientists have mastered temperatures
of -200? F and below. Explore how the cold not only preserves and
chills, but also shatters rubber tires, strengthens steel, and fuels
rockets. Finally, visit Alcor, where researchers keep cadavers on ice
in hopes of future revival.
9-10pm -- The Universe - Mars: The Red Planet
It has been fifty years since man first ventured into space, but the
greatest secrets are yet to be revealed. Mars is the planet in our
solar system most similar to Earth despite otherworldly features such
as the largest volcano in the Solar System. Rumors of life on Mars may
be substantiated as NASA orbiters and rovers discover new evidence of
frozen water just beneath the rusty soil. Did alien life exist there?
As Earth reels with the effects of global warming, Mars becomes the
most likely candidate for eventual human habitation. Cutting-edge
computer graphics are used to show what life would be like on Mars,
and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien
atmospheres.
10-11pm -- Mega Disasters - Glacier Meltdown
With scientists in complete agreement that the climate is warming,
many climatologists are warning that intense and prolonged droughts
could ravage the interior of the Western United States, leading to
catastrophic water shortages. Could we be facing a replay of the Dust
Bowl of the 1930s on an even bigger scale?
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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Copper.
It transports electricity, water, and heat. Our bodies can't survive
without it, yet it can kill microbes in minutes. It brings music to
our ears and beauty to our eyes. We'll delve into all of copper's
impressive traits, history, and how it's mined. This versatile red
metal's most famous attribute is its ability to conduct
electricity--copper wires connect and energize the world. And it's
revolutionizing the electronics industry by enabling ever-shrinking
computer chips. It's also formed into plumbing pipes to convey water
and is the metal of choice for beautiful roofs and sculptures. It
doesn't only look good--it sounds great too. A visit to a bell foundry
reveals why bronze, a copper alloy, has been used to make music for
hundreds of years. In myriad shapes and for innumerable uses, copper
figures prominently in our world.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Fertilizer
Fertilizer--without it two thirds of the world would starve. It makes
our lawns grow greener and our crops grow taller. Take a tour of the
places where the essential nutrients that feed the soil are harnessed.
Dig deep in a phosphate mine, sniff around a sewage treatment plant
and get dirty in a trough teeming with seven million worms. Finally,
learn about a war that was fought over the control of bat poop!
Sounds like a lot of BS.
9-10pm -- Lost Worlds - The Vikings
The Vikings were fearsome warriors from Denmark and Norway who burst
upon Western Europe, raiding and plundering at the end of the 8th
century. They first targeted coastal monasteries, but later they
constructed magnificent ships that could sail up rivers and sack
inland towns. These raids resulted in the Viking invasion of Britain
and Northern France. Many of the sites of the most crucial events in
world history are now lost. Follow a team of historical detectives who
use evidence from recent excavations, scientific studies and
historical documents to see what these locations looked like. Computer
graphics allow viewers to fly over, enter the streets and peer into
these lost worlds.
10-11pm -- UFO Files - Hangar 18: The UFO Warehouse
What happens when a UFO crashes? Some experts claim that the UFO
wreckage and even the pilots are transported to a top-secret facility
in Dayton, Ohio called "Hangar 18" located on Wright Patterson Air
Force Base. Declassified Government documents prove that the "disk"
from the famous Roswell event and fragments of other mysterious
crashes were shipped to Wright Patterson. Hear stories involving
elected officials, UFO researchers, and former base employees, some of
whom are going on the record regarding "Hangar 18." They spin a tale
of flying saucer debris, alien bodies, cryogenic chambers and a vast
underground network that may hold the secrets to the UFO mystery. Is
there a conspiracy to hide UFO evidence from the highest branches in
the U.S. Government, or is it all just a myth?
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Thursday, September 27, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Sticky Stuff
Bees do it. Chemists do it. Even Photocopiers do it. And if it's not
done enough, the world will become unglued...literally. From Velcro
hooks to Gecko feet, making things that stick is no easy task. Come
revel in the oozing, seeping mystery of a sticky rubber--25 years in
the works--that lets an athlete climb a 200 foot stone wall; or a roll
of tape so strong it sticks together skyscrapers, even in winds of 240
MPH. We'll also see how electrostatics makes cling wrap cling, bee
glue stuck ancient mummies together, and how the tar that trapped
Woolly Mammoths now seals our roofs.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - More Snackfood Tech.
They crunch; they ooze; they crackle; they pop--mmmmm, yeah! Soft
drinks, donuts, meat snacks, popcorn, and gum. What's your weakness?
From the handmade treats of the earliest civilizations to hi-tech mass
production, these snacks are borne of man's need to feed his cravings.
Join us for an hour-long tasty treat as we examine the history of
snackfoods and check out how they are made today.
9-10pm -- Boneyard - Oil Rigs
Offshore oil and gas platforms are some of the largest manmade
objects, built to survive drilling disasters, hurricanes and icebergs.
When they are no longer useful, dismantling them is an expensive
ordeal. Floating hotels and artificial reefs are some of the
alternative uses recently found for these structures. In the Gulf of
Mexico they are being converted into producers of clean and renewable
energy-wind.
10-11pm -- Dogfights - P-51 Mustang
In the aerial battleground of World War II, the P-51 Mustang proved
itself to be the most famous war bird in history. Take a look at three
of its most memorable battles. On November 2, 1944, Capt. Donald Bryan
leads a group of P-51s escorting B-24 bombers to their target deep
inside of Germany when he runs into a huge gaggle of Me109s on the
attack. On June 23, 1945, Second Lieutenant Bob Scamara takes off with
a flight of Mustangs from Iwo Jima. His group is jumped by seventeen
Zeroes. On April 7, 1945, pilot Richard Candelaria becomes one of the
first Americans to face the jet menace. First-hand accounts, rare
archival footage and original shooting supplement the remarkable
computer graphics.
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Friday, September 28, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Runways.
What do you think about when you gaze out the window as your plane
takes off? Probably not about the least heralded part of our
infrastructure--airport runways. But runways play a vital role as the
backbone of aviation. They're where rubber meets road and land gives
way to sky. Did you know that airports like JFK train falcons to keep
little birds from becoming a hazard to the big, shiny birds? Join us
for an engrossing look at the brawny concrete and asphalt runways that
make aviation possible.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Extreme Aircraft.
Join us for a supersonic look at some of the most cutting-edge
aircraft ever developed--from the X-1 that first broke the sound
barrier to the X-43 Scramjet that recently flew at Mach 7. These
extreme aircraft have made their mark on aeronautical history, and
sometimes on political history as well. The U-2 and SR-71 spy planes
played a crucial role in the Cold War, and now Lockheed Martin's
top-secret "Skunkworks" division is touting the new "air dominance"
fighter plane-- the F/A-22 Raptor.
9-10pm -- Human Weapon - Marine Corps Martial Arts
Hosts Bill Duff and Jason Chambers travel to Quantico, Virginia to get
a painful lesson in the combat style that has helped spawn the
Marines' widely feared reputation. They'll shoot, clash, and kick
their way through the Marine Martial Arts Program, the Corps'
self-invented fighting program that borrows over 180 deadly moves from
ancient martial arts around the world. Along the way, they'll learn
how Marines used their hand-to-hand combat and bayonet skills to
defeat four German divisions at the Battle of Belleau Wood in France
during WWI; how an elite unit known as the Marine Raiders fought their
way across numerous Japanese islands during WWII; and they'll hear
firsthand how Marines are putting their combat skills to the test in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
10-11pm -- Human Weapon - MMA: America's Extreme Fighting
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the United
States. Though many think of it as a recent phenomenon, the moves used
by today's great MMA fighters date back hundreds, and sometimes
thousands of years, and come from every corner of the globe, from
Japan to Brazil and Greece to Thailand. Hosts Bill Duff and Jason
Chambers explore the unique world of the American MMA phenomenon, its
current success and its fascinating history. They will train with the
sport's greatest masters and explore the history of the most
successful moves used by these champions, eventually facing off
against a skilled MMA fighter in a real exhibition match.
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Sunday, September 30, 2007
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7-8pm -- Mega Disasters - Glacier Meltdown
With scientists in complete agreement that the climate is warming,
many climatologists are warning that intense and prolonged droughts
could ravage the interior of the Western United States, leading to
catastrophic water shortages. Could we be facing a replay of the Dust
Bowl of the 1930s on an even bigger scale?
8-10pm -- Alaska: Dangerous Territory -
For generations, Alaska has exerted a powerful pull as the place to
head for a job like no other; work that promises the adventure of a
lifetime, the chance to strike it rich, and the very real prospect of
never making it back alive. Plying their trades on America's last
frontier, soldiers, Coast Guard crewmen, bush pilots, and truckers all
work for the same boss from hell: a dangerous territory full of the
most inhospitable weather and extreme terrain on earth. Even today,
Alaska boasts four of the country's top 10 most dangerous jobs. We'll
feature dramatic stories of four killer jobs from the last 150 years
of Alaskan history and experience what it takes to survive and thrive
in this intense and harsh climate by riding along with today's workers
and hearing from old-timers who forged the way. And we'll weave in the
traditions, technology, and tools that can mean the difference between
life and death in Alaska's killer jobs.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 06 - Driving on Thin Ice
Truckers have hauled more than 100,000 tons of supplies in
temperatures of forty degrees below zero, but accidents and strict
safety regulations have sent many drivers packing. Jay Westgard
embarks on a trip to the De Beers mine with a 95,000-pound diamond ore
scrubber. Without it the De Beers mine can't go into production in the
fall, but Jay has to haul it across two hundred miles of lake ice to
get there. Rookie T.J. Tilcox is being investigated for driver
negligence. Rick Yemm continues to make the long hauls with no heat in
his truck. Emergency crews spring into action when a truck goes
through the ice.
This fan website is not connected in any way with any TV channel. If you buy anything from Amazon.com using their links here, they pay 6% commission, but there were no sales for the last 30 days. At this rate, this website may soon cease to exist.
The History Channel's real-life Pirates Of The Caribbean website including a Mail Call clip of their favorite weapons: click on the pirate ship there to see video
Saturday, September 8 @ 9 am: Freak Shows 2
Saturday, September 15 @ 9 AM Revenge Tech.
Thursday, September 20 @ 11pm & 3am: Brothel Tech.
Saturday, September 22 @ 9 am: Bounty Hunters.
Saturday, September 22 @ 2 pm: The Gunslingers.
Saturday, September 22 @ 3 pm: Gang Tech.
Saturday, September 22 @ 4 pm: Six-Shooter Tech.
Wednesday, September 26 @ Noon & 6 pm: Native American Tech.
Thursday, September 27 @ 11pm or 3am: Brothel Tech.
Friday, September 28 @ 11pm & 3am: Massacre Tech
Saturday September 29 @ 9am: Shootout Tech
Keith Carradine is currently narrating a history of World War 2 on PBS for Ken Burns
Mail Call (rated TVPG-L, cc) in 2007, all 30-minute unless noted:
Sunday, September 30 @ 12pm Gator Navy #75
At the US Naval Base Coronado, host R. Lee Ermey ships out with the "Gator Navy"--the seafaring men and women of the amphibious assault fleet--and opens the episode from the deck of an LCU [Landing Craft Utility] about to dock with its mother ship, one of the Navy's newest LAAS [Landing Amphibious Assault Carrier], the USS Belleau Wood. The crew takes us through a fire drill and a close-quarter drill--"Battle Stations!" to landlubbers. In San Diego at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, he gets an A-to-Z rundown on ship repair, before looking back to WWII to answer the question--Was there a real Rosie the Riveter?" Lee narrates the thrilling story of the Battle of Coral Sea, the first aircraft carrier battle in history. Then, he fast-forwards to Operation Desert Storm--the last time a US battleship fired its guns in anger. Note: this episode is edited down to 16 minutes due to the Band Of Brothers marathon that follows
Friday, September 7 @ 6pm & 12pm Mail Call #42:
Guided Missile Destroyer/WWI Aircraft & Aces/Marine Corps Fast Teams
Onboard the USS Preble, one of the Navy's newest destroyers, R. Lee Ermey explains its Aegis Fire Control System, and the history of the Navy's first guided missile, the Loon. He reviews the most effective WWI aircraft and the best pilots, like US Ace Eddie Rickenbacker and Germany's Red Baron; checks out the curves of a Gibson Girl, a WWII emergency transmitter; meets the elite Marines of the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Team, who guard nuclear material on docked subs; and flips his Challenge Coin. Rating: TVPG
R. Lee Ermey (Mail Call) has decided to play something other than a tough drill sgt. (Full Metal Jacket). His latest movie is a prequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre called "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" as the head of a very strange & lethal family of mutants
For info on UFOs, check out the interview on MonsterVision's Mars Attacks page
Official HistoryChannel.com Homepage
From the invention of the electric battery in 1800 to the murdered remains of missing Washington intern Chandra Levy being discovered in a Washington D.C. park*, find out what happened when with our exclusive History of the World Timeline!
GO TO: HistoryChannel.com/worldtimeline
Find out more about any topic any time, including this day in history (your choice of decade), with our Best Search in History: www.HistoryChannel.com
* Congressman Gary Condit (D), who reportedly told police he'd had an affair with Levy, is no longer considered to be a suspect in the case. Condit lost his bid for re-election in the Democratic Primary of March, 2002.
NOTE: We are listing both EST/Pacific Time and individual television ratings.
If you are not American, here is our link to Amazon.co.uk
Watch Mail Call every week if you know what's good for you, 
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